Spain’s Development Minister proposes almost €16.9 billion funding for France and Portugal rail links

SPAIN’S Development Minister has proposed spending almost €16.9 billion to finish a cross-border railway line due to run into Portugal and France.

Jose Luis Abalos said almost €13.5 billion of the funds would go towards laying new tracks for the Atlantic Corridor. A further almost €3 billion would be spent on upgrading existing lines, the minister added.

The amounts floated show the “enormous magnitude” of the project which was needed to modernise a rail network that risks becoming obsolete, Abalos said.